These 4 simple hacks will make you drink more water everyday

From internal processes like digestion to external ones like maintaining the quality of your skin, water plays an extremely important role in your life—no wonder everyone from your GP to your nutritionist and dermatologist are constantly trying to get you to sip on enough H2O. It’s hard to keep gulping plain, tasteless water all day—we get that. But that doesn’t make for a good enough excuse. We put together four fool-proof ways to up your water intake from the barely-there-litre to the recommended two to three.

Get yourself an appIf you’re another one like us, working in the digital space, and constantly using their phone for calls, emails, texts and social media, the best way to remind yourself to drink water is to get an app that’ll buzz you every time you’re supposed to sip—leave it to the experts. Try WaterMinder that charts your water intake with a visual of how full your body is and gives you achievement badges (positive reinforcement anyone?) as you drink through the day. One of the most popular apps, Daily Water – Drink Reminder gives you glass visuals that you’re supposed to empty over the course of the day.

Use a bottle with markers on it
If you’re one of those people who loves making lists and checking things off one—it’s not a level of satisfaction everybody can associate with—the best way to increase your water intake is to set goals for yourself. Invest in a water bottle that comes with markers that show you exactly how much water you’ve consumed and set a task for yourself to finish a certain amount by a certain time. As you notice the water go below the mark, the more satisfied you will be.

Add some flavour to your basic H2OFind yourself grabbing a juice pack or a soda every time you’re thirsty? So do we. Enter: flavoured water. Make your own by adding herbs like mint with berries, citrus fruits and spices to your bottle. All the flavour and none of the excess sugar content. Experiment with concoctions and you’ll find yourself drinking something new every day—as if you’re tricking your body.

Establish habitsDoing something as simple as getting yourself to have a glass of water after every bathroom break (so you’re replenishing your body) and before every meal (which even controls your appetite) will have you sipping on a lot more water than you usually do. Continue this for a few days and it’ll eventually come naturally to you.

New year, new you? Want to get fit, start eating better or give your body a health overhaul? Expect a new wellness story, covering everything from trending diets to new workouts and everything in between in our 31 Days To Fitness series, every day of January.